Guard pleads to sex offenses at South Shore jail

PLACERVILLE – The former South Lake Tahoe jail officer who had consensual sex with two female inmates has pleaded no contest to two felony charges and will serve up to two years in state prison.

Michael Cooper, 35, had been arrested in October 2007 after one of the inmates reported a sexual encounter to El Dorado County sheriff’s officials.

Cooper had originally been charged with 12 felony counts, which included alleged incidents from three women, one to include rape by threat. All but the two consensual sex charges were dropped with the plea. The two convictions also are not strike offenses.

The incidents took place between December 2004 and December 2006, according to court documents.

Though Cooper faces a maximum sentence of two years, his formal sentence will be handed down by a judge next month.